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June 25, 2008

Historic New England Plans Lectures at Castle Tucker

by Sam Savage

By Anonymous

Historic New England has been awarded a $1,000 grant from Maine Antiques Dealers Association to offer a history lecture series. Each lecture will take place on the lawn at Castle Tucker, or in case of rain, in the barn at Nickels Sortwell House.

Admission is free for members of Historic New England and is $5 for non-members. Refreshments will follow each program.

The first lecture at 3 p.m. Sunday features Jennifer Pustz, historian at Historic New England, who will share her research and perspective on "Voices Back Stairs," the stories of the unnamed servants who helped run the large mansions in the late 19th century.

The second lecture will be at 3 p.m. July 20 with Jack Larkin, chief historian and scholar at Old Sturbridge Village, professor of history at Clark University and author of "Where We Lived: Rediscovering the Places We Once Called Home and The Reshaping of Daily Life in America, 1790-1840."

The final lecture will be held on a date to be scheduled in September. John Childs, chief conservator at Historic New England, will present his popular "Furniture Forensics," which explains methods of dating antique furniture.

Castle Tucker is open five days a week, Wednesday through Sunday, June 1 through Oct. 15. The first tour is at 11 a.m., and the last tour is at 4 p.m.

The Nickels Sortwell House on Route 1 is open from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Friday through Sunday until Oct. 12. Call 207-882-7169 for more information.